Obituary for Susan Krupnick
Susan Ellen (Nissenbaum) Krupnick was born on March 26, 1950 in Penn Wynne, PA. Susie lived a charmed childhood, traveling the world with her parents, Charlotte and Nate Nissenbaum, and her brother, Ronald “Boots” Nissenbaum. She met lifelong friends at Penn Valley Elementary, Welsh Valley Jr. High and Harriton High School. Susie then attended American University, where she studied English literature and immersed herself in the hippie lifestyle of the 1960s. She participated in Woodstock, protested against the Vietnam War, and honed her lifelong commitment to healthy eating. In the spring of 1969 she met Steven Krupnick, the man who would become the love of her life, on a park bench in the American University Quad. It was love at first sight and they instantly became inseparable soulmates. Susie graduated from college early so she could marry Steve on January 22, 1971. From that moment on, Steve and Susie spent the next 47 years together, building a life filled with joy.
They raised their three children Katy (Friedland), Betsy (Ramage), and David in the Society Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia, taking advantage of all that the city had to offer. Susie began her career as a English teacher and later earned a Masters in Special Education. As a young mom, she taught special ed preschoolers and ran parenting groups, determined to balance a career and motherhood. In 1984, never afraid of change, Susie started a new career path as the co-owner and operator of a punk children’s store called Kamikaze Kids. The store was situated in the heart of the counterculture scene of South Street and she loved being part of the creative community surrounding her storefront. Soon Kamikaze Kids became the gold standard for hip children’s wear throughout the Philadelphia region, growing to include additional stores in Manayunk, Suburban Square, Newtown Square, and Marlton, NJ. Susie was a “worker bee” to her core, and after 17 years as a store owner, she decided to work with her husband Steve, a local business and property owner, relishing in her ability to take "teammate" to a whole new level.
Susie was enthusiastic about everything. Being active made her feel alive and her positive energy and love of life was contagious to everyone who knew her. But despite having a robust work life and a gigantic circle of friends, the leading roles in Susie’s story were always played by her family members. A devoted wife and mother, Susie put her family first and never missed a school play, sporting event, or late-night talk. She adored her nine grandchildren and jumped at any opportunity to do a puzzle or craft project with them. Susie considered the beaches of Longport, NJ to be her “happy place” and took great pleasure in hosting her family of 16 throughout the summer. Nothing brought her more pleasure than walking with Steve along the beach, hand in hand.
Susie died on Thursday, June 28th after an eight yearbattle with breast cancer. She is survived by her husband Steve; her brother Boots Nissenbaum and his wife, Judy Nissenbaum; her children Katy and Jason Friedland, Betsy and Jake Ramage, David and Davida Krupnick; and her grandchildren Julien, Wyatt, Zoe, Violet, Charlotte, Harrison, Grayson, and Colin.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Susie’s honor to the Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech, an organization that she loved for the support it gave her grandsons. www.clarkeschools.org/krupnickfund
Funeral Services: 10 am, Sunday July 1st at Congregation Rodeph Shalom, 615 N. Broad Street, Phila., PA 19123 (please use the Green Street Entrance).
Shiva will be observed immediately following burial at West Laurel Hill Cemetery and Monday, July 2nd from 3-8 pm.